A meta-analysis of neuropsychological markers of vulnerability to suicidal behavior in mood disorders

Résumé

textbfBACKGROUND: Suicidal behavior results from a complex interplay between stressful events and vulnerability factors, including cognitive deficits. However, it is not clear which cognitive tests may best reveal this vulnerability. The objective was to identify neuropsychological tests of vulnerability to suicidal acts in patients with mood disorders. textbfMETHOD: A search was made of Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases, and article references. A total of 25 studies (2323 participants) met the selection criteria. A total of seven neuropsychological tests [Iowa gambling task (IGT), Stroop test, trail making test part B, Wisconsin card sorting test, category and semantic verbal fluencies, and continuous performance test] were used in at least three studies to be analysed. textbfRESULTS: IGT and category verbal fluency performances were lower in suicide attempters than in patient controls [respectively